Around Town

Mural Coming to Watertown Square Celebrates Artist’s Love, Vision for His New Hometown

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The mural, called “I See a Dream,” planned to be created on the wall outside CVS in Watertown Square by Amir Tabatabaei. A large wall in the center of Watertown will get a bright new look when a local artist creates a mural inspired by his experience moving to his new hometown. The project will be the first public art for its creator since he emigrated from Iran. Amir Tabatabaei will work on the mural that will go on the side of the CVS on Main Street in Watertown Square starting this spring. It will start where the gate opens onto Merchant’s Row, the alley off of Main Street, and unfolds along the wall.

Around Town

See Artwork Around Watertown, Join a YardArt Guided Tour

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The creativity of Watertown residents is on display this month during YardArt. A couple of guided tours are scheduled to visit some of the displays, or create your own using the list on the YardArt website. A walking tour on April 14 will be led by Public Arts & Culture Planner Liz Helfer, and on April 23, the Bike & Pedestrian Committee will lead a bicycling tour. Guided YardArt Watertown Walking tour: Friday, April 14, 2023, at 1pm

Meet in front of the Watertown City Hall at 149 Main Street with Public Arts & Culture Planner, Liz Helfer. Liz will take you on a tour of nearby YardArt locations and discuss upcoming public art in Watertown. The tour will take approximately one hour and start at 1pm.

Around Town

Patrick’s PALS 3 on 3 Tourney Raising Funds for Research of an Inherited Cause of Autism

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The Patricks PALS 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will take place at Bentley this year. The event raises money for research into Fragile X Syndrome. The Patrick’s PALS 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament returns in for the 27th time, and it will have a new home at Bentley University. This year’s tournament will take place on June 3, 2023, at Bentley University’s Dana Physical Education Center. The event raises money for FRAXA Research Foundation, which does research into Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disabilities that affects 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 8,000 girls worldwide, according to FRAXA.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Woman Wearing Wig Tries to Cash Check, Man Seen Taking Baby Monitors on Several Dates

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

March 27, 8:47 p.m.: Officers on Arsenal Street saw a vehicle driving westbound dragging two construction cones under the front bumper and speeding. The cones came from a construction site farther down Arsenal, near Louise Street. Police pulled the vehicle over and the driver had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He performed field sobriety tests and did not pass four.

Government

This Week: Main St. Project at Planning Board, School Budget & Council Considers Linkage Fees

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. There are some big meetings this week, including the first time a City board will consider the major mixed-use project on Main Street. The School Budget will be presented by the Superintendent which currently faces a deficit of nearly $1.4 million. And, the City Council will discuss the proposed linkage fees on developments to create affordable housing. Superintendent Dede Galdston will present her recommended FY24 School Budget to the School Committee on Monday, April 10.

Sports

College Sports: Pitcher Earns Win, High Jumper Wins for Bridgewater, Senior Signs to Play Field Hockey

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Former WHS player Anthony Panza got the win for Framingham State’s baseball squad. (Courtesy of Framingham State Athletics). A pair of former Watertown High School athletes have excelled in college sports recently, and another will be playing at the next level next year. Baseball

Anthony Panza, a WHS grad, closed out a shutout for Framingham State on April 7, and notched a win for the Rams over Bridgwater State. The decision was the first win for the senior, who has two saves in eight appearances along with 22 strike outs, just one walk, and an ERA of 0.00.

Around Town

Developers of Life Science Projects Make Case to Ease the Impact of Linkage Fees

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Elkus Manfredi ArchitectsA view from Water Street of the life sciences building being built by Boston Development Group at 66 Galen St. Developers working on life science projects in Watertown say the proposed linkage fees, being considered by the City Council, could put the City at a disadvantage compared to communities not charging the fees, and it comes at a bad time. They propose some changes to how they pay the $11.12 per square foot, which has been earmarked to create affordable housing. At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 11, Councilors will discuss and are scheduled to vote on the linkage fee rules. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Watertown has already received approval from the State Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker to charge up to $18 in linkage fees.